A while ago, I shared with you a tip on the best way to apply concealer for a lovely diffused and natural finish. I don’t know if anyone is still practising it, but I still am, and it still amazes me to this day, how effortless it is and looks.
The next question that naturally arose was what is the best concealer brush to use?
I’ve been meddling around for a while since, trying to figure out which makeup brush I favoured for applying concealer, and I think I have finally found the best ones.
Do note that I will share with you the best SHAPES you should look out for, because there are many different brands of brushes out there, and you can use this guideline to find one within your budget. You may have realised by now, that my tastes run into champagne territory, not iced tea 😛
The concealer brush I don’t recommend
This will be harsh, but I WILL NOT recommend the flat paddle-shaped brush that is usually labelled “concealer”. This is the silver Shu Uemura brush with synthetic bristles that you see in these pictures.
The Shu Uemura brush I have is old and may no longer be available. But most brushes that are pushed for use to apply concealer, especially around the under-eye area, are shaped like this. This is also the same brush that is often peddled for all over eyeshadow application. Yes, I don’t like it for that purpose either.
I had to learn it the hard way, after amassing a few in different brands and bristles, only to realise that it does not work very well. The reason I say so is because these sort of brushes, which resemble paint brushes, apply product too thickly to the skin, just like paint brushes. If you are anything like me, and abhor having thick makeup on your face, then this is a brush you will want to avoid. The same principle is true for foundation. However, if you prefer having more product on your face, then you’d want this brush because my recommendations will not work for you 😛
The best brushes for applying concealer
The best sort of brushes for applying concealer for me therefore, are brushes that are dense and flexible. The reason for this is quite simple. A dense brush allows for you to use a lighter hand, and for the brush to blend less product more seamlessly onto your skin to build coverage. A flexible brush head allows the brush to flex more easily and diffuse product more evenly. With these brushes, I experience no streaking, no patchiness and importantly, allows me to use just very little product.
The key thing to note is that none of these brushes are labelled for use for concealer and are in fact for eyeshadow application. In fact, they aren’t even labelled for use with cream-based products as they are all natural hair brushes! But work within your comfort zone – there are many good quality synthetic brushes available today.
Blending brush
This is a brush often labelled a blending brush. It usually has longer, more flexible bristles, that fan out to a rounded head. Brushes like these come in different sizes, and are often suggested for blending eyeshadow. The one I’ve shown here is a Hakuhodo J142 (white goat bristle) and I have also other similar shaped brushes in other brands.
With a brush like this, you can work your concealer around your under-eye area in little circular motions, and it results in a very diffused, seamless look – pretty much like blending your eyeshadow.
Large Domed Eyeshadow Brush
Brushes like these are fairly large and dense, and work well for those with large eyelid space. But I found it to be excellent for applying and blending my concealer. The dense head picks up product very easily (especially useful with drier formulas like the NARS Soft Matte Concealer – I have a newfound admiration for it) and diffuses very little product very efficiently. If you prefer more coverage, this is the brush you want.
I usually dip the head of the brush into the pot, allowing the tips of the brush head to pick up product. Then, I dab it where I need it, before lightly blending. It is incredibly easy to control due to the larger head, easy to blend and diffuse, due to its dense but flexible bristles, and quick, because it’s so large! The brush I use is the NARS Eyeshadow Brush #40 and it is stellar for blending concealer! It’s the one I use most often.
Left to Right: Wayne Goss Shadow Blending Brush #16, NARS Eyeshadow Brush #40, Hakuhodo J142
Large Dense Shadow Blending Brush
Again, this is an eyeshadow brush and again, it is a large one. I’m not sure why I bought it, but I think it came in one of the Wayne Goss brush sets I bought a couple of years back. (I’ve stopped collecting temporarily 😛 ). I wasn’t sure what to do with it at first, because it is so large. It is supposed to be useful for applying and blending out shadow.
The difference between a brush of this shape and the one before this, is that it has a round ferrule as opposed to a flattened one.
I later found that this performed similarly to the domed eyeshadow brush. The dense bristles allow me to pick up product more easily, and the dense but longer, flexible brushes allow me to blend product better for a more diffused and seamless appearance.
You can find a similar shape in other brush brands. I have seen a similar sort of brush in more affordable brands like Zoeva or Sigma.
How I use these brushes to apply and blend concealer
With a drier formula that comes in a tub, I dab the brush into the pot and diffuse it directly on my skin. Usually one dab per eye and cheek area. I don’t end up with too much product on my skin, and the results are very natural.
When I use more liquid formula like those found in a tube e.g. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, I usually lightly dot 1-2 dots on my under-eye area, and 3-4 dots for my pigmentation. Then, I grab one of the brushes here, and just blend it out. It is impressively quick, and the results are flawless. Also, if I feel like I need a touch more concealer after I’m done with the rest of my makeup, I just pick up the brush and lightly blend where I need it. Done in a two shakes of a lamb’s tail! 😀
Can’t I use my fingers?
Of course you can! I was using my fingers for the longest time because I did not like the brush I was using, and I found I had to use the warmth of my fingers to blend out any streaks. But when I found the right brushes, everything fell into place! 😀
Do you use brushes to apply and blend your concealer? What are your favourites?
It took me a while to figure out which brushes worked, and to think outside the box. I was afraid of using eyeshadow brushes for the longest time because they’re not “meant for use that way”. But I’m glad I jumped out of that box! 😀
Paris B
I use my fingers because washing concealer brushes are a pain.
LOL I fully agree unfortunately! 😀 But I wash my brushes all at the same time and thus far, it isn’t giving me more work than say a foundation brush 😀
I use brushes for concealer. But I did not use make up brushes, I use PAINT brushes. In my opinion, they work better than the make up ones. Believe, i went through a lot of brushes. In the end I find paint brushes the best. After all, putting on make up is like painting our face right? Good quality paint brushes are relatively cheaper than the make up ones and you will be surprised at the quality of the paint brushes. The ones I used do a better job in applying, blending than the ones marketed as make up brushes.
Thanks for sharing Weinie 🙂 I must say that your choices are spot on, since you are absolutely right – makeup is pretty much like art and art brushes do the job as well. I have nothing against paint brushes (just not the ones for painting walls LOL! Too big and rough by me 😉 ) and I had previously gone down the same route myself. The primary difference I’d say, having tried using paint brushes and makeup brushes, is to do with the comfort of the bristles on the skin and handle length (far too long to do makeup). Price-wise, a good quality, natural hair paint brush is pretty expensive too, although they may hold up better, as painters will likely wash their brushes more regularly than makeup artists 🙂 So, just look for these shapes at your regular art shop, and you’d be good to go! 🙂
Hi Weinie and Paris,
Sorry to butt in, I’m just really interested in finding out what type of paintbrushes do you use?
Do you go for any brands in particular or are there any key things to watch out for in terms of quality and suitability as a makeup brush substitute?
Thank you! ?
Not Weinie (hope she sees this!) but I personally would go only for the synthetic bristle brushes as most paint-work is wet so they’ve worked out what works (think for use of concealer, foundation, gel brow/liner etc) but I don’t know many painters who use dry powder to paint (makeup colours tend to be dry). Natural hair brushes that are truly soft and gentle for makeup use would cost a lot as well and personally, I’d just go for a makeup brush because I know it’s meant to be for makeup use. I think the brushes that work best would be for brows and perhaps eyeliner. Be sure you test them first to ensure they are soft. You don’t want brushes that are too stiff as they can irritate skin. Also, watch the handles as paint brushes tend to have longer handles, which means you have to stand further away from mirrors. A point to note if you want to do detailed work, or are short-sighted! 🙂
Thanks for the detailed explanation. And yes, a good point about the longer handles as I’m pretty short-sighted. I do recall the last time I purchased paintbrushes (years ago) that they are usually stiffened with glue to keep their shape, so it will be a little more difficult to determine if they will be soft enough for the face.
I can imagine that it will be harder to use paintbrushes for powder. There’s no avoiding a blush brush 😛 I also recall seeing tutorials by Lisa Eldridge and she uses really fine paintbrushes for her pinpoint concealing.
And lastly, oh my goodness, I didn’t notice that I ended my last comment with a typo that sounded as though I was being sarcastic! (that exclamation and question mark at the end). The risks of typing a comment with my phone. Sigh
Yes that’s the other problem with paint brushes – they come stiff. To me, while in theory, a paint brush does the same thing a makeup brush does, sometimes we have to look at the practical side of things too. I’d be a little hesitant to put something on my face that isn’t cleared for use on the face. Otherwise, what’s to stop us putting powder paint on our faces? 😛 But for things that need precise work like concealer and eyeliner, paint brushes are probably better than makeup brushes because of the variety of brushes available. Just remember, good quality paint brushes aren’t cheap either! 🙂
This post is extremely useful to me. I don’t have the habit of wearing concealer because I find them too heavy. And somehow, I thought they emphasized my fine lines. Same as you, I’ve bought a number of concealer (and foundation) brushes, and ended up not using them.
I’d given up hope on concealer and at the moment, do not own any concealer at all. With your tips, I can start exploring again. Thanks, Paris!
The trick also is in finding the right concealer. Foundation and concealer is my crack haha! So I tend to dabble a lot with them. But I have found that a dense eyeshadow brush does help minimize the product settling into fine lines. Sometimes, that could be to do not with the formula, but the application. Often, even using fingers, it can be too thick. But maybe you don’t need any concealer at all either! 😀
Sometimes, I was wondering what difference a concealer could achieve as compared to a good-coverage foundation.
In my instance, I can think of concealer being applicable on say my under-eye area and red pimple spots. But it either goes too thick when applied with concealer brush and too thin with sponge (and hence looks no different from my foundation). So I really didn’t find concealer very useful, esp not when they also gifted me with more pronounced fine lines.
Ok, I’ll experiment more with eyeshadow brush and probably search your archive for good concealer. 🙂
A couple of things. Concealer is usually made to conceal so their level of pigment is usually higher and the formula is less runny/liquid so it adheres better to the skin. Also, concealer is only meant to be used where you need it e.g. under-eye area and spots. A full coverage foundation can function the same way, but foundation is usually made to go all over the face. If you use a good concealer, the chances will be that you need foundation with lower coverage so you don’t hide the healthy skin, or perhaps even no further coverage at all. I think of foundation like plaster for a wall, you just slap it on all over. Concealer is more like a filler, only used where you need it 🙂
IT WORKS! I just tried using an eyeshadow brush! Finally, I can get a concealer to work. Great news for sheer makeup lovers! Woo Hoo!
THANK YOU. 🙂
Yay! Happy to hear that Nicole! 😀
I’m using my fingers. I’m using a cream concealer by TimeBalm and I dab a bit on the back of my hand and let it ‘cook’ there. Makes a world of difference when it comes to blending.
I’ve heard good things about that Timebalm concealer 🙂 Glad it works for you! Yes, it is very helpful to warm up liquid or cream products before applying to the skin. That way it adheres better too
I’ve tried using “concealer brushes” before (paddle-shaped) and it just didn’t work. Today i tried a dense eyeshadow brush…..and I was blown away! Makes blending so much easier especially for around the nose!
Thanks for the tip Paris! 🙂
Yes! Those paddle-shaped brushes are really awful IMO I don’t know why they’re still being peddled. Perhaps it helps satisfy the needs of those who want to apply thick makeup. I’ve been seeing a lot of it on YouTube and Instagram lately – concealer and foundation that is a totally different shade from their skintone, then they end up using another 23834 products to colour correct LOL! I’m like why?!?!
That digression aside, I’m happy to know that this tip worked for you 😀 Yes, the eyeshadow brushes help you place product better and actually blend better too!
I don’t own many brushes. I have used Chanel concealer brush before, and I hated it but I sucked it up because *cough*expensive*cough. Then, I tried Zoeva’s concealer brush which is the same paddle shape but larger and softer than Chanel’s. I quite like it because it does not leave any streaks and easier to blend because the bristles are softer. Then, I fell in love with beauty sponge and used that for my foundation and concealer. Now, I just use my finger because I feel that is the best way to make the edges of the concealer dissolve into surrounding skin for my post-acne marks.
Fingers are truly underrated makeup tools! These days, I’ve gone back to using my fingers to apply foundation (some foundation actually apply better with my fingers) and I love it! However, I also found that fingers can also be a little too heavy when it comes to concealer, which is why for me, I still settle with a brush. But fingers are great – don’t underestimate them 😀